Life can be stressful, and many people need to have help for mental health problems like anxiety and depression. There are lots of practical activities that can help you to combat this – popular practises include meditation and yoga. But do you know, there is another activity that is a great way to help your mental health – knitting!
Knitting is easy to get into, there are lots of tutorials online as well as using a knitting kit like this one from Wool Couture so that you can get started quickly with everything that you need. Here are some of the ways that knitting can help…
Helping with Pain – If you have a condition that means you have a lot of chronic pain this can wear you down and make you feel quite low. However, knitting is proven to be able to help with this. A soothing and rhythmic activity, it creates a distraction from the pain and helps to alleviate it.
Focusing the Mind – A lot of mental health problems can cause the mind to wander, become distracted and catastrophize. Knitting helps the mind to focus on a project and stops the mind from wandering – it can help to lower the stress levels in the brain this way.
Social Support – For many people knitting is a social activity. It doesn’t have to be of course, but for those that want that social connection there are lots of knitting clubs and groups that can help people to connect with one another and form a social network of support. If you struggle with feelings of loneliness and isolation, this is a great thing to get involved in.
Better Physical Health – As well as being great for mental health the benefits of knitting also extend to physical health. Because it reduces stress it can help to lower the blood pressure, meaning that you are at lower risk of many health conditions caused by high blood pressure.
Productive and Practical – Of course, knitting can also help you to create special items, from blankets to jumpers. Having a project on the go is a good thing and can give you a sense of achievement when you complete it.
